Roman Silver Siliqua of Arcadius Ex. Thruxton Hoard

Code: 10535

This is an ancient Roman silver Siliqua of emperor Arcadius dating to 392 - 395 A.D.

DN ARCADI-VS PF AVG pearl-diademed draped and cuirassed bust right 

VIRTVS RO-MANORVM Roma seated left on cuirass, holding Victory on globe and inverted spear.

This coin was minted at Treveri (Trier, Germany), mintmark TRPS. It had traveled across the English Channel, being buried in the Thruxton Hoard. This coin takes the hoard into the joint reign of Honorius and Arcadius, this would place Thruxton treasure near the beginning of the sizable body of British siliqua hoards, which end with the period 395-402. Furthermore, the siliquae in this hoard are virtually unclipped ('clipping factor 1' just possible on one specimen) and this, together with the presence of miliarenses alongside the siliquae, supports an earlier date for the deposition of the hoard, before the AD 395-402 coinage had much chance to spread into the circulation.

This coin was purchased directly from the finder after being disclaimed by the British Museum. 

CULTURE: ROMAN

DENOMINATION: Siliqua

MATERIAL: Silver

DATE: 392 - 395 A.D.

MINTMARK: TRPS (Trier )

SIZE: 17mm dia

WEIGHT: 1.3 grams

ATTRIBUTION:  TRPS. RIC IX Trier 106b var (sceptre) Sear (1988) 4227 var (ditto); Sear 20761 var (ditto)